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: Methanol engines are on the advance

MAN's ME-LGIM engine: dual-fuel propulsion system for methanol and conventional fuel, based on the proven ME series, offers CO2-neutral ship operation and high efficiency.© MAN Energy Solutions

According to a recently published report by the Maritime Cluster Northern Germany (MCN), methanol is well on its way to establishing itself as one of the most important fuel options alongside LNG and ammonia, as well as bio-based fuels such as FAME, due to its high potential in the decarbonization of shipping and environmental protection. SeaHelp supports more environmentally friendly propulsion systems on the water by regularly reporting on current developments in this field.

Just a few years ago, engines that could process methanol were hardly available. But now, established engine manufacturers are increasingly opening up to this fuel and actively developing this market, according to a study by the Maritime Cluster of Northern Germany, or MCN for short. In addition, there are reportedly more and more engines that are being converted by manufacturer-independent specialist companies in retrofits or before delivery to the end customer.

Methanol (IUPAC), also known as methyl alcohol (outdated wood spirit or wood alcohol), is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula CH4O (half-structural formula: CH3OH) and the simplest representative of the alcohol group. Under normal conditions, methanol is a clear, colorless, flammable and highly volatile liquid with an alcoholic odor. It mixes with many organic solvents and with water in any ratio.

 

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MAN’s ME-LGIM engine: dual-fuel propulsion system for methanol and conventional fuel, based on the proven ME series, offers CO2-neutral ship operation and high efficiency. © MAN Energy Solutions

With the methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology, methanol is converted into fuel

With an annual production of 60 million tons (as of 2012), methanol is one of the most widely produced organic chemicals. The technical production of methanol is mainly carried out catalytically from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Methanol and its derivatives are used not only as raw materials but also as energy sources: with the methanol to gasoline (MtG) technology, methanol is converted into fuel.

There are currently many companies and institutions worldwide that are active in the field of methanol engines. This makes it increasingly difficult for players in the shipping industry to keep track of what is going on, according to MCN. For this reason, the Hamburg-based organization commissioned the engineering firm GasKraft Engineering to create a market overview of all relevant players in the field of methanol combustion engines.

The result is a “comprehensive tabular overview of players who already offer, will offer or are researching marine engines as main or auxiliary units, as well as the most important engine data,” according to MCN.

The market for green fuels is on the move, and the foundation stone has been laid by engine manufacturers

In addition to the essential parameters of the engines shown, the overview also includes the researched fuel consumption at different load points. In some cases, the data has been supplemented by computational estimates in order to “provide exactly as much information as is necessary in the basic design stage”.

“The market for green fuels is on the move. Although the range of (soon to be) available methanol engines has grown considerably compared to previous years, it is still manageable enough to be presented in a clear overview,” explains Henning Edlerherr, project manager at the MCN office in Lower Saxony.

This is expected to change rapidly in the next few years. In any case, the foundation stone has been laid by the engine manufacturers.

The market transparency study on methanol engines, conducted between October 17 and December 31, 2023, was presented to the public for the first time at an online event on April 8, 2024. The study, compiled by the authors Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hinrich Mohr and Dr.-Ing. René Wolf, both of GasKraft Engineering, can be requested free of charge by email from:

Henning Edlerherr, ni@maritimes-cluster.de. Contact Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V.: Wexstraße 7, 20355 Hamburg, Sandra Rudel, Tel. +49-40-227 01 94 98, sandra.rudel@maritimes-cluster.de.

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